The games somewhat ,not much, it's fun to watch good players dissection of a rack at times
The it's the culture that surrounds it I can't stand
The it's the culture that surrounds it I can't stand
Does it bother you where the state of pool in america is?
- Thread starter Positively Ralf
- Start date
Hard to say what I, as a layman think of the "State" of the game of pool. I know I can usually find a place 30-40 minutes from wherever I go in this country to shoot that has a few regulars that are serious about the game. Is it underrepresnted on TV? Sure, but streaming services and youtube seem to be picking up the slack there...Mosconi Cup losses got me down???? No, I don't think one person I play with missed a winks sleep over it (bummer all the same). I love shooting on my league team, competing, learning. Playing occasional pros in the local $10 nine ball tournament. Pool as a televised juggernaut may be dead or on life support, but the pool scene in this nation is still nothing short of fantastic in my view.
Yes, it bothers me that Pros aren't on TV and young people aren't interested.
What is sad is there are people that that have been out there hitting balls for years on leagues and can rarely hit one of the six pockets on the table.
They must not care to play better because I see the same people who were 2's or 3's are still the same ranking several years later.
It does not bother me because Iv never consider Pool much more than a recreational game that if you got good enough at you could make some extra side money eaither while going to school or working towards another profession be it sports or otherwise
For me I made a lot of that side money my 5 dollar allowance turned into a pair of chuck tylors or a new shot gun or bike many more times than not , later just paying for nights of drinking and food for me and my girl who I use to call 100 dollar Louie my pool playing payed for more of those nights than I could ever count
That's the market I would say has dried up big time , been yrs since Iv seen a good ole bar 5-10 dollar ring game now everyone wants to be a lock artist ,
I do miss those days for sure , but being older now and no more need to pay big drinking tabs , I'm learning one pocket and thier seems to be a rise in that in player of my age being 56 , so I can get cheap action pretty much anytime I want in a few places ,don't win or lose much but have a great time playing so the beat goes on
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For me I made a lot of that side money my 5 dollar allowance turned into a pair of chuck tylors or a new shot gun or bike many more times than not , later just paying for nights of drinking and food for me and my girl who I use to call 100 dollar Louie my pool playing payed for more of those nights than I could ever count
That's the market I would say has dried up big time , been yrs since Iv seen a good ole bar 5-10 dollar ring game now everyone wants to be a lock artist ,
I do miss those days for sure , but being older now and no more need to pay big drinking tabs , I'm learning one pocket and thier seems to be a rise in that in player of my age being 56 , so I can get cheap action pretty much anytime I want in a few places ,don't win or lose much but have a great time playing so the beat goes on
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justinb386
Banned
I have been really depressed about the local pool scene where I live (in Louisville, KY). Here is a city with a population of around a million people, and the average tournament downtown gets maybe 8 players (in average). That is really sad.
I think the issue is that there is no added money to the pot, and also that it is not a handicapped tournament (it is just a race to 3 9 ball).
It seems that there are no young people interested in the game (or a small % in comparison to the people who are interested).
It seems to me that most people that play league for example, or in their 40's, 50's and older. The sport just seems to be dying.
We need more young players to get interested in the game, for this sport to survive here in the US, or all of the pool rooms will eventually close down (other then the ones that are popular eating and drinking spots, with really good food, and other stuff like good bands on the weekends, and other things that people are much more into in this day and age).
I have no answer for what can be done to help the pool scene. I think it is doomed to never be any better then the state that it is currently in (here in the US).
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justinb386
Banned
Yeah, it is just too bad (and very sad, to me) that pool is not as popular as bowling is (for example).
justinb386
Banned
The tournaments would be dead without a handicapped system for them. The few A players would show up, but that would be just about it, and you would have a very small field of players in your weekly tournament. Also, if there is no money added to the pot, then the tournament will have even less interest (even for the A players). I imagine that might be just fine in New York City (or similar city), but not for the smaller communities. The pool scene around where I live is in a very sad state.
justinb386
Banned
Oh yeah, I have known many Asian players that were here for school (at a local university) over the years, and they took the game very seriously, and they were very good players. They were not out to swindle other players either. They were very nice and respectful to to me, when ever they talked to me (unlike the average US player who is looking to gamble, and has no interest in being friendly or playing just for fun). Many Asian players have tried to help me with my game too, over the years.
No there is no real answer and no magic wand , in pools hey day thier simply was not much for bored kids to do pool tables at home offered something for the kids to play at home , and even family entertainment also I had one at my house and so did some of my friends ,, today none of my daughters friends have a pool table yet they all have video games hooked up to big screen TVs and that simply is going to grow and no pool on TV is going to change that cause the fact is top gamers dwarf pool money 10 fold
Then there's you tubers , top guys are into millions ,, so as the old commercial use to say where's my motivation ,, it simply does not exist nor will it ever , best that can happen is it gets enough support as a past time sport and it nietch following that allows it to continue
And at the end of the day that's all it ever was anyway
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justinb386
Banned
I think the only thing that would really grow the sport of pool is to have pool as an extra curricular activity in High School (and maybe even middle school), with a nice 9 foot Diamond, and a master instructor to help any kids to learn the game, who might show an interest in pool (and good quality house cues available, like Valley Supreme house cues for example, if those are currently the best quality 1 piece cues available on the market, for any young kids that wish to learn the game). Imagine the possibilities. We could someday be able to be Europe, if pool were a real sport (like Tennis and other major sports are) here in the US.
Oh, maybe I should add that kids can only join their pool class if their grades are decent, and maybe even have grade school and high school pool teams (just like in Football and other school sports).
This is all just a fantasy (that will probably never happen) here in the US though, but I think it may be the only way for the sport of pool to have a better future.
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justinb386
Banned
Maybe if the internet were never created, then pool would be much more popular.
justinb386
Banned
Yeah, that was really messed up, for a legendary player that many looked up to, to do something like that. I was really shocked when I learned about it.
justinb386
Banned
I love the culture. That is a big part of what makes pool so exciting and fun to be around. Imagine if the culture was similar to golf. That sounds pretty boring to me.
lawrence526
Registered
Mainly, pool is a bar type environment, lots of players and good players, but the venue is not what you would call a sport that is, promotable. We have a few tournaments that are presented in a way where it draws a positive rating, the kind that the general public can pay attention to. The Sponsors though are billiards related with very few exceptions and the money, or draw, is dismal.
Unless the image is changed and promoters brought in who know how to market the game, the players and the general populace, its going to remain where its at, in a bar or backroom, and that's kind of sad because it is a great sport, lots of fun, so very technical and requires great skills to play to a high level. And we have millions who love to play, invest deeply into it and can barely see it displayed as other sports are.
Big time sponsors have to have a reason to invest capital! And as far as an audience, its there, just waiting to be tapped and that's usually the call to profiteers.......................
Unless the image is changed and promoters brought in who know how to market the game, the players and the general populace, its going to remain where its at, in a bar or backroom, and that's kind of sad because it is a great sport, lots of fun, so very technical and requires great skills to play to a high level. And we have millions who love to play, invest deeply into it and can barely see it displayed as other sports are.
Big time sponsors have to have a reason to invest capital! And as far as an audience, its there, just waiting to be tapped and that's usually the call to profiteers.......................
justinb386
Banned
Yeah, that is sad, but the fact is that they have no natural ability, and no interest in working hard to improve their game. They just do not love the game enough to want to improve. Pool is nothing more to them then maybe a few weekly social hours, to kill time, and drink a few beers while hanging out with their league team mates. That is all.
justinb386
Banned
This may be going a little off topic, but all of my old friends (pool hall playing buddies), that were pretty strong players, and really into pool (back in the mid to late 90's) have given up the game completely. They got careers, wives, and some had kids, and pool just is not an interest to them anymore. I do not have even 1 single old friend (from back in the day) that would care to chat with me (online) about pool, even if they had the time to do so. It just seems that there is not much interest in the game for young players, and many of the older players (that were big into the game back in the 90's) might have given up the game. I just think it is a dying sport. Very sad. I will always love the game of pool though, and will always dream of being able to walk into a pool hall filled with very strong serious pool players, who are mostly all playing 9 ball. These days, I walk into the pool room, and everyone is much older, and playing 1 pocket. That makes me sad too. I really respect the game of 1 pocket, but I just wish there were more young players interested in playing the game, and I wish that there was a bigger interest in rotation pool games. One pocket is a great game, and I respect it, but it is just very boring to me.
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I have a SERIOUS problem with the current state of pool. Look at the top tier players, PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS!! I guarantee you the top 20 in the world don't make $100,000 per year (excluding gambling). From tournaments wycliffe they don't average bringing home 8-10k a month!! THAT'S SAD!! The TOP PLAYERS OF WORLD IN ANY KNOWN COMPETITIVE ACTIVITY SHOULD MAKE 1 MILLION PER YEAR!! Minimum!! ✔